The person who revived the Guol house of the Co Tu people

Retirement without quitting work

After the liberation day, the young man of the Co Tu ethnic group - Ra Pat A Ray left the army and returned to his hometown in Thuong Long commune (Nam Dong, Thua Thien Hue ) to participate in social work. From Secretary of Nam Dong District Youth Union to Head of the Cultural Department, then Chairman of Thuong Long Commune People's Council... No matter what position he held, he always fulfilled his duties well.

During his career, Mr. Ra Pat A Ray has made many contributions to the socio -economic development of ethnic minority areas. In particular, he has become the “core” in the work of preserving the good values ​​in the traditional culture of the Co Tu people…

The Guol House built by Mr. Ra Pat A Ray in his house has become a place for cultural exchange and preservation of the Co Tu people.

According to him, as a son of the Co Tu people, ever since he was working, he has always been concerned about preserving the culture of his people. He often thinks and asks himself the question, how to prevent the Gươl house - the symbol of the Co Tu people from being lost; how to prevent folk songs, trumpet sounds... from being lost over time.

No sooner said than done, on his day off, he gathered young people who loved the traditional culture of the Co Tu people to teach them how to play the flute and sing traditional folk songs; he participated in and built mass cultural and artistic movements in the locality. Thanks to that, the local artistic movement grew day by day, from the risk of losing traditional folk singing, flute and gong playing, now many young people know how to play the flute and sing traditional folk songs.

In 2004, Mr. Ra Pat A Ray retired according to the regime, but for him, "retirement is not retirement". He was elected as Vice Chairman of the Veterans Association of Thuong Long commune. In particular, since he was elected as Secretary of the Party Cell by the Party members, and was honored by the people as a prestigious person in A Xang village, Mr. Ra Pat A Ray has always been a pioneer in mobilizing people to actively work and produce to develop the household economy to escape poverty.

Along with that, he actively mobilized the Co Tu people to eliminate the custom of dowry and organizing funerals that lasted for many days, affecting economic and cultural life. Together, they built a civilized lifestyle in weddings and funerals to suit the construction of a new cultural life in residential areas. He also actively mobilized members and people to actively participate in programs and projects to support the people from the resources of the National Target Program, especially the National Target Program for Socio-Economic Development in Ethnic Minorities and Mountainous Areas.

Sharing with reporters, Mr. Le Thanh Ho, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Nam Dong district, Thua Thien Hue province said: "Mr. Ra Pat A Ray has held many positions, so in his role as a prestigious person, he has a lot of experience in mobilizing the people, from preserving and promoting good traditional cultural values, eliminating backward customs; building and consolidating the great national unity bloc. The people trust and listen to Mr. Ra Pat A Ray's advice and mobilization."

Deeply attached to the culture of the Co Tu people

For many years now, the Guol house – a place to hold festivals, community activities, and cultural exchanges of the Co Tu people, and also a symbol of solidarity and strength of the Co Tu people – has been absent from the villages, causing Mr. Ra Pat A Ray to worry. He is determined to make the Guol house “revive” along with the Co Tu cultural space right in his own house.

Not only knowing how to build Guol houses, the prestigious Ra Pat A Ray also knows how to play many traditional musical instruments of the Co Tu people.

Accordingly, the 365-day journey of building the Guol house was carried out by him persistently, from the sketching stage, then searching for materials, building the house...; In 2010, the Guol house was built by him according to the typical architecture of the Co Tu people, from the thatched roof, decorative woven items..., almost intact the traditional Guol house model.

Over the years, the courtyard of Mr. Ra Pat A Ray’s Guol house has become a place for cultural and artistic exchange of the Co Tu people, and is also where he receives distinguished guests. Every afternoon, after finishing his farming work, Mr. Ra Pat A Ray sits in the Guol house whittling bamboo, splitting rattan to weave trays, winnowing baskets, and baskets…

Mr. Ra Pat A Ray said he was very happy and proud when the traditional Guol house was completed. This not only fulfilled his wish, but also contributed to preserving the culture of the Co Tu people: “I always think that if I do not try to preserve and pass on, the traditional culture of my people will be lost. Therefore, I always try my best, while I am still healthy, I will continue to work.”

Another impressive thing is that Mr. Ra Pat A Ray is also talented in playing drums, gongs, panpipes and some traditional musical instruments of the Co Tu people. Over the years, Mr. Ra Pat A Ray has participated in drum and gong performances at festivals, cultural and tourism events in and outside the province. In his spare time, he teaches the young generation of Co Tu how to play drums, make musical instruments and weave baskets.

In the Guol house of Mr. Ra Pat A Ray in particular and the Co Tu people in general, Uncle Ho's picture is always placed in a solemn position.

Mr. Ta Ruong Mao, a cultural and social officer of Thuong Long commune, said: Despite his old age and declining health, Mr. Ra Pat A Ray is always enthusiastic about participating in local cultural activities. Recently, he was honored to represent Nam Dong district to participate in the 4th Central Ethnic Culture Festival in Binh Dinh province in 2023.

As a son of the Co Tu people, Mr. Ra Pat A Ray understands, loves and always finds ways to preserve and pass on the culture of his people to his descendants. He is a “living museum” preserving and teaching the traditional cultural beauty of the Co Tu people to today’s young generation…

Tiger symbol on the wall of the Co Tu people's house

Source: https://baodantoc.vn/nguoi-lam-song-lai-nha-guol-cua-dong-bao-co-tu-1719219180813.htm